…As NSC Welcomes Bid Evaluation Team
By Andrew Abah
The leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to staging the first-ever Commonwealth Games to be hosted on African soil in 2030.
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko and Director General, Bukola Olopade reassured Commonwealth nations of Nigeria’s readiness, as they welcomed members of the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee in Abuja, as part of Nigeria’s ongoing bid process.
Mallam Shehu Dikko said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is committed to bringing the Games to Africa for the first time, describing the effort as “a major step towards inclusivity in the Commonwealth sporting community.
“We are very happy to welcome you here in Nigeria, stressing our seriousness to host the 2030 Games and show you around the beautiful city of Abuja and our facilities,” Dikko said.
“One thing I want to assure you is that the President sees the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, if we win the bid, as a celebration of the country’s growing force in sports, beyond just participation,” he added.
The Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, added that the country’s bid has all the elements that would make Nigeria get the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
“The key elements of a bid of this magnitude are facilities, political will, private sector backing and the passion of the people. This bid has all of these elements and much more to prove our seriousness,” Olopade assured.
“We have put a very strong bid committee together led by Mainasara Illo, with a very robust bid document. Therefore, we are very optimistic that with all the engagements we will be having with the Commonwealth Games Bid Evaluation Committee led by Darren Hall, throughout their visit, it will be another major step towards Nigeria winning the rights to host the 2030 Games,” Olopade added.
In a reflection of the Government’s commitment to hosting the 2030 Games, the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, hosted the Commonwealth Games delegation on behalf of President Tinubu.
In attendance at the meeting were nine members of the Federal Executive Council, including Minister of Youth Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Chairman of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission Charles Ebuebu, and other top government officials.
The Commonwealth Sports delegation consisted of Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance and member of the 2030 Evaluation Commission; Ann-Louise Morgan, CS Director of Sports; and Ezera Tshabangu, CS Regional Development Manager for Africa and Europe.
